Ray Wylie Hubbard

A leading figure of the progressive country movement of the 1970s, singer/songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard remains best known for authoring the perennial anthem "Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother." Born November 13, 1946, in Soper, Oklahoma, Hubbard and his family relocated to Dallas during the mid-'50s; there he learned to play guitar, eventually forming a folk group with fellow aspiring musician Michael Martin Murphey. Befriended by the likes of Jerry Jeff Walker and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Hubbard later formed a trio named Three Faces West, which regularly performed at the Outpost club in Red River, New Mexico, a musical hotbed also trafficked by artists including Steve lb and Bill & Bonnie Hearne. Upon the breakup of Three Faces West, Hubbard toured the Southwestern coffeehouse circuit as a solo act before forming another group, Texas Fever; they too proved short-lived, and he returned to New Mexico to again take up residence at the Outpost.

While in Red River, Hubbard rekindled his friendship with Walker, who in 1973 recorded Hubbard's most famous (if least representative) composition, "Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother," on his acclaimed Viva Terlingua LP. The success of the album guaranteed Hubbard instant cult status within progressive country circles, and at the same time, he set about organizing a new backing band, dubbed the Cowboy Twinkies. Considered by many the first cowpunk group -- their regular set lists included everything from Merle Haggard songs to a show-stopping cover of Led Zeppelin's "Communication Breakdown" -- the Cowboy Twinkies' music met considerable resistance in both country and rock quarters; frustrated, Hubbard funded a demo tape that won the group a contract with Atlantic. However, the label left the band in limbo, and they finally jumped ship to Warner Bros., which shipped them off to Nashville to record their debut LP, Ray Wylie Hubbard & the Cowboy Twinkies.

Released in 1975, the album suffered from label-imposed over-production and fared poorly; Hubbard did not resurface prior to 1978, when he signed to Willie Nelson's short-lived Lone Star imprint to record Off the Wall, which contained his own version of "Redneck Mother." The following year Hubbard acquired a new backing unit in the form of the Lost Gonzo Band, previously Walker's supporting group; comprising guitarist John Inmon, bassist Bob Livingston, and drummer Paul Pearcy, they recorded the live LP Caught in the Act. By 1984, Hubbard was backed by the Bugs Henderson Trio, which featured guitarist Henderson, bassist Bobby Chitwood, and drummer Ron Thompson; with them he cut another live effort, Something About the Night.

Hubbard didn't record for another eight years, instead building a small but loyal following through constant touring. Finally, he issued Lost Train of Thought on his own Misery Loves Co. label in 1992, followed in 1995 by the Dejadisc release Loco Gringos Lament. Dangerous Spirits appeared two years later, and in 1999 Hubbard returned with Crusades of the Restless Nights. Eternal & Lowdown, which was issued in summer 2001, captured the haunting poetics of religion, philosophy, and salvation. It was followed in 2003 by the raw and gripping Growl, the laid-back Delirium Tremolos in 2005, and Snake Farm in 2006. Hubbard's near constant touring schedule and curating his own Grit 'N' Groove Festival in 2009 and 2010 kept him busy. He eventually emerged with A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment (Hint: There Is No C) in 2011, and followed it up with The Grifter's Hymnal in 2012. In April 2015, Hubbard released another self-produced set, The Ruffian's Misfortune, which like his previous two albums was released through his own Bordello Records imprint. Later in 2015, Hubbard was slated to publish his long-awaited autobiography, A Life...Well, Lived. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

There are damn few originals in the muzak bidness. You can have your Beyoncé. You can love on your Amerikan Idols. You can put your Madonna in your front window. But I'll take Ray Wylie, Robert Earl, Jimmie Dale, and Joe, Butch, Willie, Slaid and the rest of the real artists of the trade.

5 months ago

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gizmo7821

Every time I hear RWH my brain stops so I can inhale every word. He's natural as the sun commin up. Makes my day & lots of dizzy nights. Keep on jammin big guy

We just saw him at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, and were just blown away.He's raw, driving, and brilliant, weaving gritty personal stories, with classic literary references into vivid imagery you can *feel* ...that with a bassless beat that rocks your core.We ended up having the great honor of meeting him, and he invited us, as his guests, to his show the next day.Not only is he an iconic musician's musician, but he's a damn nice guy, too!! He had Lucas with him, too, whose obviously inhe

How is this guy not better known? He's one of the best songwriters on the alt. country scene IMHO. His albums are always strong, check out Live at Cibolo Creek Country Club for starters. I saw Ray & Hayes Carll on ACL the other night. Hayes said that was RWH's 1st visit to ACL. I mean, how is that possible? He's been writing great music since the 70's. In fact, the first time I saw him was in a small club in Norman, OK in 1976. He's coming to the Blue Door in OKC later this spring & I can't wait

Beth Irwin- How was the 12/17 show in Nashville? We love Ray Wylie and have been to several of his shows while living in Texas! My husband met him at show at the Granada, in TX and asked Ray Wylie to autograph a picture of our golden retriever -(whose name is also "Ray Wylie"-(after Ray Wylie!!) Ray Wylie did this and said ("he had never had a dog named after hime before") Love him!! Dottie and Rocke

5 years ago

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brianshort0

Great tune

5 years ago

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beth1278

looking forward to seeing RWH at the Jammin at Hippie Jack's TV recording in Nashville on Dec. 17th and its free!! How cool is that?? the show's website:www.myhippiejack.com

Love me some Ray Wylie Hubbard. I was lucky enough to see him again in OKC the other night, what a great performer he is. Great music, great stories, an excellent show. I really can't say enough good things about him. Don't miss the chance to see RWH if you get the chance, you won't be disappointed .